NEW YORK-April 1, 2014 -Armed with a new slate of hits across every genre, Nickelodeon finished first quarter 2014 as the number-one network in total day with kids 2-11 and total viewers--marking its second straight quarter at the top. Nickelodeon scored the top five animated shows for kids with SpongeBob SquarePants at number-one and live-action hit Sam & Cat was kids' top show on all TV for the quarter.

For the quarter, Nick averaged a 3.0/963K with K2-11 (+3% over year ago); a 4.1/505K with K2-5 (+8%) and 1.8M total viewers. Additionally, the close of March marks the net's fifth consecutive quarter of ratings growth.

SpongeBob SquarePants is TV's top animated series among K2-11 (5.0/1.6M) and K6-11 (4.7/924K) for the quarter. Sanjay & Craig came in second with K2-11 (4.6/1.5M), followed by Breadwinners in third (4.5/1.4M), Rabbids Invasion ranked fourth (4.3/1.4) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (4.2/1.3M) rounded out the top five.

Sam & Cat, which debuted last summer, is a bona fide hit, taking the top spot with K2-11 (6.3/2.0M) and K6-11 (8.6/1.6M) across all TV for the quarter. The series is also basic cable's top kids' show with total viewers (3.7M). Additionally, Nick's super hero comedy, The Thundermans ranks as the quarter's number two live-action series with Kids 2-11 (4.6/1.5M) and Kids 6-11 (6.1/1.2M), followed by The Haunted Hathaways, which ranked third with Kids 2-11 (4.5/1.4M).

Nickelodeon closed the quarter strong with its 27th Annual Kids' Choice Awards, which was a slime-filled extravaganza watched by more than 11.4 million total viewers over the weekend. Hosted by Mark Wahlberg, Saturday night's live premiere (March 29, 8-9:30 p.m.; all times ET/PT) drew 5.0M total viewers and ranks as the top telecast of the week (3/24-3/30) with kids and tweens across all TV, averaging a 7.0/2.2 million K2-11, 8.9/1.7 million K6-11 and 8.0/1.6 million T9-14. Internationally, the 2014 Kids' Choice Awards also delivered strong preliminary ratings. The show scored record ratings in the Netherlands, Poland and Northern Belgium and was rated number-one in its timeslot among kids' channels in key markets including the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Poland, and Northern Belgium.

Nickelodeon's quarterly win with kids 2-5 was fueled by surging ratings from its hit preschool programming block (M-F 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.), which averaged a 4.9/612K K2-5 (+11% versus year ago). The latest addition to Nick's preschool lineup Wallykazam! is the net's highest-rated preschool offering for the quarter, averaging a 6.7/830K with K2-5 (+46%), followed by PAW Patrol 6.6/822K with K2-5 (+40%).

Nickelodeon, now in its 35th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 19 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).